In Windows 10 Creators Update v.1703 (Build 15063) or later, a Windows Defender Security Center icon always appear in the notification area of Taskbar (system tray), even though you are relying on third party antivirus solution to protect against virus and threats, and have not been using Windows Defender. When hovering the mouse over the icon, most of the time the tooltip will pop up stating no actions needed, as your own comprehensive security software takes care of most protection needs.

Windows Defender Security Center is not to be confused with Windows Defender which automatically disabled itself when you install any supported antivirus software. Windows Defender Security Center hopes to make you more informed and easier to view and control the security protections you choose and better understand the security features already protecting you on your Windows 10 device in five pillars, namely virus & threat protection, device performance & health, firewall & network protection, app & browser control and family options.

This tutorial will show you how to disable Windows Defender notification icon so that it doesn’t appear in the Taskbar tray.

Locate the Windows Defender notification icon (MSASCuiL.exe) process, and right click on it and select End task to terminate the process. You still need to perform steps above so that the icon won’t come back on next restart.

Gee – why are you reading an article CLEARLY titled which indicates it is for disabling the ICON, when you are actually looking to disable the whole thing? Maybe a little more googling instead of a smart-a$$ comment. Lazy lazy lazy.

Sergio

Thank you very much for this tip. The Windows Defender’s icon insisting in appears in the tray without any plausible reason was really annoying me. I have third party antivirus and firewall already installed.